Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-02-03
LOVE IN CIVIL SERVICE.
4owApasrTv GIRL woNA HUSBAND.
But This Is Not Always q Safe Precedent
for Pretty Girls to Follow.

A reporter of the Washington Re-
publican is responsible for the follow
ing interesting story:
"The life Of government clerk is
at best a monotonous one, as in nearly
all the departments the clerks have
the same routine work day after day"
said venerable treasury clerk, "and
when there is bit of gossip to relieve
the monotony of his life, it is taken up
with arelish and is retold till blossoms
out in many different FORMS"
"What is disturbing the monotony
now% inquired the reporter.
Well, / am getting to that, Six
years ago last March, q bright eyed,
rosy-cheehed young fellow of twenty
two received an appointment through
political influence in the division | am
employed in. You know that was the
days bsfore civil service reform. He
was quick and intelligent, and it was
not long before he was as familiar
with the work as the Oldest clerk in the
office. For u year or so he was most
efficient clerk, and was on time. With
sorrow i began to notice that he was
becoming dissipated; that his work
was behind, and instead of the frank,
independent expression that he had
when he lrst came in the Office, was a
careless, deyil-may-care sort of a look.
demonstrated with him and told him
he would be dismissed, and Justly, too
If he did not shake the companions he
was aasociating with. His only reply
was: q can take care of myself; you
needn't fret about me- His downfall
didn't surprise me much, for | had
seen a number Of young men go just
his way who had come into the depart
ment honest, sober young fellows and
leave it broken down in health, and
careless as to how they made their liv-
ing. Things went on this way until
the present administration came into
power, and the heads of the different
bureaus were changed. Consequently
great number of new clerks came in.
Among these was pretty young lady
with large brown eyes and fascinat-
ing smile. The clerks, both male and
female, Immediately took to her, and
she became a general favorite. The
young men in the Office never lost an
opportunity to have few minutes
chat with her, but that is as far as 1t
ever went. Though she treated all
pleasantly none were ever invited to
call on her Tie young fellow spoke
about had gotten so that lie seldom had
anything to say to any one. In the
course of time he made the acquaint-
ance Of the pretty young clerk, and
that evening one OF the older ladies',
with the best intentions in the world,
told the young lady not to get too inti-
mate with that man, as he was cOnsid-
cred 'rounder,' or, in other words,
dissipated.
"She said she liked him, and thought
there was great deal of good in him
II he had the proper encouragement.
He seemed to be a gentleman, and that
II he did anything wrong it was only
through carelessncss After this the
two young people were together con-
stantly when not at the office, and q
most wonderful change came over him.
He stopped drinking, attended to his
work with WILL aud, when not some
where with her Of an evening stayed in
his room and read was pleased to
note the change; and knew that all
would come out well. She had only
been III the office about six months
when he came to me one day and said
he was going to resign, as his salary
was not sufficient to support wife as
he would like to- and he had secured q
position as bookkceper in a wholesale
grocery house in New York. He went
away and / heard nothing from him
We often spoke of him at the Office
but no one ever dared ask the younj
, lady clerk about him for they remem
s bered how she went for the old lad
who spoke of him to her. Severa
weeks since | was surprised when tn
young lady came to Inc, as the youn
: man had before, and said she would b
!, pleased il would send in her resigna
tion to the secretary. asked jokingl
!, If she was going to be married. Sh
|. blushingly admitted she was, but woul
o not say to whom. ] suspected and fel
: pleased. One afternoon she and he
husband called to see me, and 1t prove,
!. to be the young man | suspected. II
!. told me he had been very fortunat
s since leaving the office, and was nov
!. head bookkecpcr for the concern +
$ which he went from the department,
J. and attributed all his success To tn
= pretty young bride at his side. The
;. left in the evening for New Yorl
n where henceforth will be their HON,
8 1t does my heart good to see MAJ
y riage like that
+ 49, ~--sy
J. A Hint 20 the Girls.